Struggling Nantes lure Barthez from retirement

PARIS, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Former France goalkeeper Fabien
Barthez will join Nantes to help them in their bid to escape
relegation, the Ligue 1 strugglers confirmed on Saturday.

'He has not signed yet but it is something that will happen
in the next few days,' Nantes president Rudi Roussillon said.

Barthez, 35, had announced his retirement in October.

A prominent member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning side
and the team who reached the final in Germany this year, he has
been without a club since leaving Olympique Marseille at the end
of last season.

'Fabien Barthez has a strong wish to return to competitive
football,' Roussillon said. 'This is a great challenge for him
and for us. To have somebody like Fabien Barthez joining us is a
fantastic opportunity'.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper was expected to sign
a six-month contract.

Nantes have however dismissed media reports they had asked
former France defender Laurent Blanc to become their coach.

'I don't know where this false information came from,'
Roussillon said. 'I have never contacted Laurent Blanc, nor has
anybody at the club.'

Nantes are second from bottom in Ligue 1. They drew 0-0 with
Girondins Bordeaux on Saturday.